‘This Is The Whole Anthony Smith Thing Again’ – MMA Fans Split After Curtis Blaydes Promises To Eviscerate Alex Pereira At Heavyweight
Alex Pereira carries an aura unlike any other fighter we have seen in the UFC, during his campaigns at both middleweight and light heavyweight.
As the current champion at 205 pounds, “Poatan” has spoken about the potential of him moving up to heavyweight at some stage to try and become a champion in a third weight class before retiring.
The prospect of seeing this has got the fans excited with a striker as dangerous and powerful, going up against the biggest men in the UFC.
Curtis Blaydes said that should he win the interim title this weekend in a rematch with Tom Aspinall, he would more than welcome Pereira up to the division.
He spoke at the UFC 304 media day about how he believes it would not end well for the light heavyweight champion if he did make the jump.
“Bad idea. I’ll give you my premediated plan, I’m going to shoot. Immediately. Why would I give him any chance to knock me out on the feet when I know I can take him down at will and I’m sure, he has to know that. I think he’s looking for a specific heavyweight, not any heavyweight. He has match-ups against, I can see him beating guys like Tai, we watched him sparring Tai Tuivasa. Maybe some other guys like the bottom of the top 15 but you give him a top five guy with some real weight, he’s not winning.”
Blaydes once again confirmed that if Pereira still wants to come up should “Razor” get the win in Manchester, he’d be happy to oblige.
“Yes, I know that’s what everyone wants to hear. Yes, I would f****** love Alex Pereira. It’s not cause he’s not good, I’m heavier than he is. Just at heavyweight, gravity, weight matters. It’s not as skill-based, that’s just how it is.”
MMA Fans React To Curtis Blaydes Labelling An Alex Pereira Heavyweight Move As A ‘Bad Idea’
Pereira is always going to have an army of fans that back him but it’s probably fair to say that Blaydes would be the toughest match-up for him at heavyweight.
Not only is he a natural heavyweight, as Blaydes said himself, he has no interest in wanting to strike with “Poatan” and would look to take him down as soon as possible.
That being said, taking Pereira down is the best route to victory for nearly every opponent that he has faced inside the Octagon and no one has been able to keep him there.
Fight fans responded to Blaydes’ comments on social media by questioning whether his assessment is correct.
“I mean that’s a fair assessment, but you never know until the fight plays out. We are still yet to see Pereira’s ground game in full display, so no questions can be answered. I’m a fan of both but wouldn’t be surprised if Pereira got it done”
“I disagree, let Alex put on 15 pounds and the whole division gets wiped out.”
“Blaydes isn’t wrong here, but he also thought he’d take down Derrick Lewis”
“Curtis has been one of my favorites for a long long while but he’ll make a bad decision and get in a situation I think”
“This is the whole Anthony Smith thing again”
“Fair and realistic take from Blaydes”
“Honestly, if he puts on the weight well, I think it’s a pick’em. Would be a good but quick fight either way imo.”
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